Predicting Which NBA Stars Play for Team USA This Summer at the Olympics

The 2012 Summer Olympics are set to take place this summer, and the USA men's basketball team will be looking to continue the dominance it started during 2010 at the FIBA World Championship.

Leading the attempt at a second straight gold medal will be a coaching staff made up of Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan and Mike D'Antoni.

The 20 finalists for the 12 roster spots were announced last month: LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, Lamar Odom (whaaaaat?), Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.

So who will take those final 12 spots?

Read on to find out.

Starting Point Guard: Derrick Rose

Age: 23

Team: Chicago Bulls

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 22.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: None

Assuming his back heals up, Derrick Rose is a virtual lock not only to make the team, but also to earn a spot as the starting point guard on the national team.

Considering he's the best player in the world at his position, it would be an absolute travesty if any of the other point guards played a larger role with the team than Rose.

This would be the reigning MVP's first appearance on the Olympic stage, but it certainly won't be his last. Rose will still be among the elite at his position four years from now when the stage moves to Rio in 2016.

Starting Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant

Age: 33

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 29.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: 2008 Team

It's debatable whether Kobe Bryant is still the best shooting guard in the NBA, but he's the one who would have to start for the national team. Those making the decision will either decide that Kobe is still the best at his position or give him the spot as a legacy pick.

Bryant has proven this season he hasn't lost a step, as he's leading the entire NBA in scoring despite his advancing age. Relying on a number of nearly impossible shots to get his points in The Association, just imagine what Bryant could do against some of the weaker teams in the summer competition.

Kobe has already said he's willing to join the United States in London for the 2012 Olympics, but this will most likely be his last run. There's little to no chance he'll be willing to risk the end of his career in 2016 if he's even still playing at 37 years old.

Starting Small Forward: Kevin Durant

Age: 23

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 27.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.4 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: None 

No, Kevin Durant isn't the best small forward in the NBA. That would be LeBron James. But I'm going to deal with that problem in a second and give the Oklahoma City Thunder's best player the starting nod at the 3-spot.

As the two-time reigning scoring champion with a game that just makes him seem like he was born to put the ball into the basket, Durant is going to end up serving as the team's go-to scorer in the starting lineup. 

It will be his first time competing in the Olympics, but if the past few seasons and his dominance at the 2010 FIBA World Championship are any indication, it won't be his last.

Starting Power Forward: LeBron James

Age: 27

Team: Miami Heat

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks  

Previous Olympic Experience: 2004 and 2008 Teams

I told you I'd deal with the LeBron James problem soon enough.

There is no doubt in my mind that James can capably play the power forward position, especially with Dwight Howard lining up behind him at center. If you were looking for a spoiler alert before the Howard announcement, deal with it. You're crazy if you didn't think he'd be starting.

James is the best player in the world, and he'll prove it against the international competition this summer. He won't need to score a lot of points, so he may not have the most glamorous stats, but he'll contribute across the board on both ends of the court.

Even though this will already be his third appearance in the Olympics, it most likely won't be his last. I expect to see James suiting up once more when the Rio Olympics roll around in 2016.

Starting Center: Dwight Howard

Age: 26

Team: Orlando Magic

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 20.2 points, 15.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.1 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: 2008 Team

Duh.

This will be Dwight Howard's second appearance in the Olympics with the U.S. national team, and it certainly won't be his last.

Superman is the most dominant center in the game on both ends of the court. As great as he's been this season for the Orlando Magic, while clearly unmotivated and disinterested in his team's success, just imagine how great he'll be playing for his country with everything on the line.

Howard is my pick to be the most valuable player on the Olympic squad.

Bench Point Guard: Chris Paul

Age: 26

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 2.3 steals

Previous Olympic Experience: 2008 Team 

Beating out Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook and the rest of the point guards for the backup point guard spot is Chris Paul.

Mike Krzyzewski likes playing a 10-man lineup in international competition, so CP3 will be getting plenty of playing time, as will all of the players I have listed as bench players and not reserve players.

Paul is the best pure point guard and will be able to distribute the ball sensationally amongst the vast array of talent around him.

Because of the wealth of young point guards in the NBA and the eventual decline of his knees, I would guess this summer will be the last we see of Paul in the Olympics.

Bench Shooting Guard: Dwyane Wade

Age: 30

Team: Miami Heat

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 22.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.4 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: 2004 and 2008 Teams

Dwyane Wade has already made it very clear this will be the final Olympic experience of his career, so you can be sure that he'll want to make this count.

There isn't a more talented shooting guard left in the NBA right now (yes, even including Kobe, whom I have in the starting slot at the position). Wade's athleticism and ability to step up in big situations will be invaluable for the team, as will his experience as a part of both the 2004 and 2008 squads.

Bench Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony

Age: 27

Team: New York Knicks

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 22.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: 2004 and 2008 Teams

Carmelo Anthony has played quite poorly (at least by Melo standards), but there's no way that he'll be left off the squad. And if he's on the team, he's too good to keep on the bench for the majority of the game.

The New York Knicks small forward is one of the most dynamic scorers alive today, and his experience with the national team will come in handy.

Anthony has a chance to play in at least one more Olympic competition, and he's going to do everything he can to make sure he has an opportunity at a third straight gold medal in 2012.

Bench Power Forward: Kevin Love

Age: 23

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 25.3 points, 13.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: None 

Kevin Love is the best power forward in the world right now, but he's going to have to be content coming off the bench for Mike Krzyzewski's squad during his first go-around with the United States' Olympic team.

As great as Love is on the glass, the different rules concerning goaltending will really come in handy if he can master them. In the NBA, there is an imaginary cylinder extending upwards from the rim and the ball cannot be touched while it's in that space. But in international play under FIBA rules, the ball is fair game as soon as it touches the rim, even if it's right over the basket.

Love is the player I can't wait to watch play this summer because of his potential to absolutely dominate. As intelligent a player as he is, this subtle difference should pay huge dividends for him.

This will be his first appearance on the Olympic stage, but he'll likely be a part of the 2016 squad as well, and maybe even the 2020 one.

Bench Center: Tyson Chandler

Age: 29

Team: New York Knicks

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.3 blocks

Previous Olympic Experience: None

As valuable as Tyson Chandler can be on the defensive end of the court, his inclusion in the 10-man lineup is really more of a testament to the dearth of American centers at the professional level than anything else.

Chandler will play less than any of the other men we've looked at thus far, but he'll still be a crucial defensive stopper whenever Dwight Howard needs a few minutes of rest and Mike Krzyzewski still wants to go with a big lineup.

The big man better enjoy the opportunity while he has it. He'll be 33 when 2016 gets here, and there are a number of young collegiate centers (cough—Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond—cough) who could take his spot.

Reserve Forward: Blake Griffin

Age: 22

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: None

Blake Griffin is simply too much fun to leave off the squad entirely, even if he may not be quite developed enough to break his way into the rotation in 2012. That will be a completely different story in 2016, though.

All I want from Griffin is a few minutes in garbage time. I want to see if he can top Vince Carter's famous dunk over Frederic Weis.

If that happens, the Internet will explode.

Reserve Guard: Russell Westbrook

Age: 23

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 22.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.3 blocks 

Previous Olympic Experience: None

While picking Blake Griffin for the first reserve spot was a fairly easy decision, picking Russell Westbrook for the final one was anything but easy.

First, I had to decide if I wanted to fill up the spot with a backup guard or forward. Because Griffin lines up at forward and LeBron James can play at either forward position, a final guard would be much more valuable for the USA's team.

That means that the decision came down to Chauncey Billups, Eric Gordon, Deron Williams and Westbrook.

I immediately eliminated Gordon because of his knee injury and lack of an opportunity to shine. Billups was a fairly easy cut because of the amount of experience the team already has on it. I'd rather go with talent than experience in this spot.

So it came down to Westbrook and Williams, which is really just a matter of personal preference. I'd rather have the offensive explosiveness of Westbrook and his trademark intensity, but only by a little bit.

Westbrook would play only a few minutes on this team, but he'd make his minutes count. There's always 2016 for him to earn a bigger role.